Lisette’s Paris Notebook

Lisette’s Paris Notebook by Catherine Bateson (Allen and Unwin)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 9781760293635

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

Paris ‘heals all wounds’ in this coming of age tale about an eighteen-year-old girl who is trying to find herself. Lise is angry. She’s angry about her break-up with Ben. She’s angry that her mum never allowed her to get to know her father (and now it’s too late). She’s angry about being forced to live out her mother’s dreams instead of her own. And she’s angry that she doesn’t know what her own dreams are anyway. When Lise’s mum arranges a 3-month solo trip to Paris for her, Lise mainly agrees to it just to get away from her. (Plus because, well … Paris!)

Lise’s mother arranges accommodation for her with Madame Cristophe, a clairvoyant, who likes to dictate her daily agenda in accordance with what her mother would want for her. Part of this includes advancing her French by arranging lessons for her with a group of art students. Lise (or Lisette, as she’s called in Paris) falls for fellow student, the handsome Anders. Her friends know it, Madame Cristophe knows it, and the reader knows it … he’s a player. Then Hugo, a British antiques dealer, appears on the scene and Lise needs to learn where her heart lies … not in love, but in life itself. And before she can know who she really is, she needs to start learning about who her father really was.

This is a heartwarming romance (written for readers aged 13–17) by CBCA award-winning writer, Catherine Bateson. She has written the book in recognition of two of her favourite childhood novels – For Love of Seven Dolls and Ripening Seed. Paris, the city of love, is portrayed in all its glory – for its artwork, patisseries, public gardens, pampered pooches and haute couture. (I loved the way Bateson used Parisienne locations as places where her character could think and grow, rather than as tourist attractions!) The novel is also a celebration of fashion, especially vintage style. Lisette’s supreme knowledge of fashion history is evident in her quirky notebook excerpts that introduce each chapter, cleverly analogous with the events that follow.

The ending is hugely satisfying, with the moral being:

 ‘… if you are going to listen to other people, listen to them all. Assemble the arguments. Then make your own decision.’

Star

 Star by Catherine Bateson (Omnibus)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-981-5
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Star has much to deal with in her young life. Her father is dead, her school friend has dumped her and her Mum now spends much of her time listening to the problems of her friend Charlie. Worse still, Charlie’s ex-wife often drops of his whinging children and Star is expected to look after them. Star wants a horse and a new best friend, not two unpleasant step siblings.

But Star’s biggest problem is that no-one will listen to her. How can she make her Mum take notice of her problems so Star can start to turn her life around?

I really liked Star. I loved how she approached her problems and the people in her life. She wasn’t overly dramatic or whiney. She chased her own dreams, no matter how insurmountable they seemed. When Mum kept saying no to a horse, Star started a catfish breeding business to earn money for horse riding lessons. When Mum and Charlie wouldn’t listen to how unhappy she was, she sought out Mum’s friend Cara and spoke to her.

I think many young readers will easily identify with Star and the isolation she feels at school and to a certain extent, at home. Her problems are common ones for children, social problems at school, change happening in the home, and blended families. The author deals with these issues in a gentle but realistic way.

The adults in this story are rounded characters too. The mother is selfish, but she is very wrapped up in her world with Charlie who is battling depression. They are both artists have ‘typical’ artists temperaments to match, self absorbed one minute, then passionate and hugely generous the next. The other two adults in Star’s life, Mum’s friend Cara and Stuart from the aquarium balance them out beautifully with their strength, security and dependability.

I did love that it was Charlie who helped Star to overcome her problem with friends in the end. It was a very satisfying ending.

This story was a realistic portrayal of families, relationships, childhood anxieties and change, told in an entertaining, light and moving way. It was filled with characters I really cared about. Star’s haiku poetry (complete with strikeouts and corrections) at the beginning of each chapter was delightful to read and offered an extra insight into her personality and state of mind.

This is a fabulous read for all children aged 9 to 12 but will particularly appeal to girls with its delicately attractive, pink blossom cover.

Hanging Out

Hanging Out by Catherine Bateson, illustrated by Adam Carruthers (Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia)
PB RRP $11.99
ISBN 978-1-86291-829-0
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton
www.buzzwordsmagazine.com

Hanging Out is another title in the excellent Mates series for younger readers. Written by one of my favourite authors, the wonderful Catherine Bateson, Hanging Out explores the rivalry between cousins Ben and Weston, and between Melbourne and Sydney.

Bateson states in her author profile that she was born in Sydney and now lives in Melbourne. I have the reverse experience of being born in Melbourne and living near Sydney and can fully testify to the ferocity of the competition between the two cities.

Melbourne boy, Ben, had been in awe of Sydney when he visited cousin Weston but true to the inter-city rivalry Ben had boasted of bigger and better things at home. Ben is aghast when Weston is to visit him and thinks he will be shown up as a fraud after boasting about such things as snorkelling in Port Phillip Bay with sharks and taking a steam train everywhere.

While Weston doesn't swim with sharks, he does see the Penguin Parade as the fairy penguins come ashore in the evening; and goes for a ride on Puffing Billy among other adventures. Weston thinks that everything in Melbourne is awesome.


Hanging Out is really just about that though - hanging out. While there maybe wonderful things to do and see everywhere you go, it is so much more enjoyable when there is someone to do and see all these things with. This is what the two boys come to realise in the end.

As with the other titles in the Mates series, the book is brilliantly presented and attractive to younger and reluctant readers. Adam Carruthers' coloured cartoon-like illustrations are full of life and fun. They are dotted throughout the book, breaking up the text. However, there is still plenty of white space so as not to overwhelm the reader. Variable fonts add to the quirkiness. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.